Lead in: Luke 1:1 tells us something interesting about how the Gospels came to be. First came the oral tradition that recounted the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Following on that came stories about Jesus, the miracles he performed, the parables he told, and the wisdom he passed on to his listeners. Eventually this oral tradition was written down. It resulted in the four accounts of the Gospel that are given to us in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Prompt: If you were to compose your own version of the life of Jesus, what are your three favorite stories of Jesus that you would make sure to include?
Lead in: The people of Jesus’ day were hoping for a messiah, a savior who would deliver them from the trials of the day to the triumph of a new day. Some expected a new Moses, a kind of super-hero who would lead them out of the oppression of Rome. Others were expecting a mighty king who would usher in a dynasty of stability for the people. But in Jesus, they would learn that God did not need warriors or kings to establish his reign because his reign was already with us. If we don’t notice it, it’s because the preoccupations of everyday life have crowded out an awareness that the kingdom is happening right in front of us.
Prompt: If the kingdom is breaking-in and happening right in front of us, what are signs of that?
Prompt: What are the everyday preoccupations that prevent you from seeing the kingdom happening right in front of you?
Lead in: In Luke 4, we hear the story of Jesus in the synagogue reading from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” We have been anointed by baptism to proclaim that good news. We do it in the way we live. It’s the vocation that is uniquely our own.
Prompt: At this time in your life, what do you see as the work that God is calling you to do that is uniquely your own?
Lead in: In I Corinthians 12:12-30, the church at Corinth is struggling with rivalries and jealousies that have arisen within the community. Paul responds using the analogy of the body. Just as the body has many parts for different functions, so the different gifts each of us is given have value for all within the community.
Prompt: How do you respond in situations where rivalries and jealousies are threatening to rip a community apart?
Prompt: What is the unique gift you bring to your family at home? To your parish? To your community?
